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LA Voters Approve 1 Out Of 4 Constitutional Tax Amendments

C. Smith, Red River Radio

Louisianan Voters were split on the Republican-backed rewrite of state tax laws.

LA AMENDMENTS OUTCOME — Louisiana voters have made a split decision on Republican legislative leaders’ push to rewrite state tax laws. Election results Saturday night from the secretary of state's office show voters approved Amendment 2 –to detangle state income tax collections from federal tax payments but refused Amendment 1 to centralize sales tax collections. The complex tax proposals were among four constitutional changes on the ballot and the only issues facing voters statewide. Uncertified election results posted by Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s office showed 52% of voters who cast ballots opposed to the sales tax measure and 54% supported the income tax change.

In summary, voters rejected Amendment 1 - the consolidation of Tax Collections, They rejected Amendment 3- granting a new tax authority for a handful of levee boards, and also rejected Amendment 4 - allowing a higher percentage of dedicated funds to address future state budget crises.

Voters' approval of Amendment 2 – triggers a package of changes that gets rid of personal income tax and corporate tax deductions for federal income taxes paid in exchange for lowering income tax rates. Amendment 2 also eliminates the corporate franchise tax for small businesses, lowers the rate for others and does away with most excess itemized deductions taken by middle- and upper-income earners.